51³Ô¹ÏÍø

University of North Georgia (51³Ô¹ÏÍø) senior is one of 20 honorees selected nationally for the 2019 Children's Miracle Network Dance Marathon Distinguished Leadership Award.

Callahan-Williams, who is pursuing a kinesiology degree with an exercise science concentration, was chosen from thousands of graduating seniors from 300 colleges across the United States and Canada who participated in .

The Kennesaw, Georgia, native was executive director for 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's first Dance Marathon in 2017-18, when Miracle 51³Ô¹ÏÍø shattered its goal of $20,000 by raising more than $42,000 for (CHOA). That led to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø earning the Best New Dance Marathon award at the Miracle Network Dance Marathon Leadership Conference in July 2018.

She received approval to start Helpful, Optimistic, Positive and Encouraging (HOPE) at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø her first day of class as a freshman, and students from the group took part in the University of Georgia's Dance Marathon its first two years before bringing Dance Marathon to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø during its third year in 2017-18. In its fourth year, the group's name changed to Miracle 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Callahan, who is also pursuing a Spanish minor, has personally raised more than $1,800 for CHOA in the past two years. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's Dance Marathon has donated more than $95,000 to CHOA in that time span.